Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-02-10

Mss Nina Van Zandt and August Spies
Construetively Laugh at Bolt and Bars
and Proceed to Marry by Proxy by the
Aid of a Friendly Justice OF the Peace.
CHICAGO. Feb. 2.-The announcement is
made that August Spies and Miss Nina
Van Zandt have been married by proxy,
! the groom being represented by his broth
er. A suburban justice of the peace Of
fciated When Sheriff Matson, about
two weeks ago. issued the order
to the officials of the county Jail not
10 admit Miss Van Zandt to see August
Spies, it was thought that the matter was
settled. but it now appears that neither CT
the couple abandoned their purpose The
law about marrying by letter and mar
riages by proxy was looked up,
but nothing was found except in
regard to marriages by proxy This
was finally decided upon, and Justice
Englehardt, in the town of Jefferson,
whose name figured in the papers during
the last months of the past year as de-
nouncing the verdict of the Anarchists
trial in public speeches, was consulted
He gave it as his opinion that marriage
by proxy would be binding in law
if the proxy was made out in due legal
form. He was commissioned to draw up
form of proxy, and spent considerable
time in making it conform to what he
thought was the law in the case. The
document was not gotten ready until
last Friday.
Early Saturday Miss Van Zandt and
Gretchen Spies, the sister of August,
went out to Jefferson and called on Justice
Englehardt to get the proxy, and having
secured the document, went to the county
jail with it. They met the wife of Spies
brother, Ferdinand, and a Mrs. Wend-
land Miss Van Zandt's three compan
ions witnessed the signature of Spies tc
the document. by which he gave full au-
thority to his brother, Henry w. Spies.
to represent him at the ceremony. Mrs.
Ferdinand Spies and Miss Gretchen
Spies signed the paper to witness
August Spies signature, when the whole
party except Spies himself went with
Ferdinand Spies to Justice Englehardts
office on Milwaukee avenue, in the town
of Jefferson. They were reinforced on the
way by Miss Van Zandt's parents and
Henry and Christ. Spies, brothers of
August. The journey to Justice Engle-
hardt's office was made on foot. 1t was
after eight O'Clock Sunday night by this
time. The justice again examined his
law books and then the ceremony was
performed. Henry Spies answered to the
name of August Vincent Theodore Spies,
and under this name was married to Miss
Van Zandt. The bride and her
parents went from the office of the
Mrs. Ferdinand Spies, not far distant, and
remained there over night The license
has not yet been returned to the county
clerk, as required by law. 1t was issued
only three weeks ago, however, and the
thirty days allowed for its return have
not yet expired. Justice Eng,ehardt is
authority for the statement that the
marriage was performed.
Spies declines to speak of the cere-
mony, and Miss Van Zandt refuses to be
interviewed, or even to be seen. Her
father also declines to talk, but does not
deny the fact of the ceremony.
Sheriff Matson expressed great surprise,
and then promptly said: Il would not
consider farce like that a marriage I'M
less pronounced so by competent legal au-
thority. The alleged ceremony will not,
in my judgment, change the relations OF
the parties. If this action was taken for
the purpose of compelling me to
consent TO the visits of Miss
Van Zandt to the jail, it is a
mistaken course and will not avail There
is no obligation, even if she was his law
full wife, to let her visit Spies. who is my
prisoner. Allowing wives to visit their
imprisoned husbands is merely a matter
of courtesy